The Los Angeles Lakers got little from Austin Reaves in a blowout loss to the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the Round 2 series opener on Tuesday night, which LeBron James addressed during the postgame.
James offered grace to Reaves following what was just his third contest back after a nearly four-week absence due to a grade 2 oblique strain he suffered early last month.
“He was out a month,” James said, per Lakers Daily on X. “We know he’s gonna make shots and make plays. That’s tough when you’re out a month towards the end of the season.”
“His presence alone helps us, no matter what,” James continued.
LeBron James Mentions Luka Doncic Injury as Reason for Lakers’ Offensive Struggles Against Thunder
GettyLeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Los Angeles mustered just 90 points as a team in an 18-point defeat to the Thunder in Oklahoma City on May 5, and that production clearly must improve if the Lakers hope to stand any chance against the Western Conference’s top seed.
Reaves connected on only 3-of-16 shots and missed all five of his attempts from beyond the 3-point arc, scoring just eight points while dishing out six assists and grabbing five rebounds on Tuesday night. He also coughed up the basketball four times, as Los Angeles committed 17 total turnovers in the game.
James added 27 points, six assists and four rebounds, but it wasn’t close to enough to keep L.A. competitive. When reporters asked the 41-year-old star about his team’s lack of offense, he made a blunt reference to the absence of Luka Doncic.
“[Where are] the offensive issues coming from?” James responded. “We have a guy that averaged 37 [points] a game.”
Doncic actually averaged 33.5 points across 64 games played during the regular season, which led the league, though James’ point remained well taken.
“The issue is right there,” James continued. “We playing against the No. 1 defensive team in the NBA, as far as the ratings and everything. And when you play against great defenses, you have to have guys that can attract multiple defenders on the floor at all times.”
Luka Doncic May Not Return for Lakers Against Thunder in Round 2
GettyLuka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Unfortunately for James, Reaves and the rest of the Lakers’ roster, Doncic may not return in time to factor into the series against the Thunder — if he comes back at all.
Doncic strained his hamstring during a game in Oklahoma City on April 2, the same contest in which Reaves got hurt. The latter was able to come back to the court after 27 days off and played in the Lakers’ final two games against the Houston Rockets in Round 1.
But Reaves’ injury was different, and clearly either less severe or easier to return from than Doncic’s has proven to be. Los Angeles has yet to put out a definitive return timetable for Doncic, so the Lakers must operate as if he won’t be back at all in Round 2.
That means that James and Reaves will both have to play excellently, and also get major contributions offensively from role players in the starting lineup and on the bench.
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